Marantz Focuses on Networking with New NR1504 and NR1604 Receivers

The top-of the-line NR1604 also has support for 3D pass-through and 4K.

Marantz just dropped a pair of new AV receivers — not literally, of course, The NR1504 and NR1604 are the kind of components that you’d want to handle with care. That’s because each of these new receivers is designed to be the cornerstone of your home theater system.

Both units can put the power of the web into your AV setup, with access to Pandora, SiriusXM and Spotify. [Just FYI: Subscriptions and/or fees may apply.] The NR1604, however, has Apple AirPlay, so users can easily stream content from an iOS portable, as well as a Mac or PC using iTunes. Bluetooth is also an option on both, via Marantz’s optional RX-101 wireless adapter.

The 5-channel NR1504 and the 7-channel NR1604 are made to bring a lot of your home theater gear together. The NR150 has six HDMI inputs, with the NR1604 featuring one extra. Both also add in an extra HDMI option and one USB port right on the front panel.

Other features across the two models include the Marantz Setup Assistant, a new Graphical User Interface, the Audyssey MultEQ room acoustic measurement and correction system, and control options via the free Marantz Remote App. The NR1604 adds in 3D pass-through and support for reproducing 4K Ultra HD video, as well as multi-zone functionality.

“Home theater lovers have never before had so many great options available to them for listening to music and enjoying movies, TV and games, and all from multiple sources and digital devices. But, with such a flood of content available, it can sometimes seem like you need a degree in engineering just to figure out how to navigate through it all to suit your personal entertainment needs and preferences,” says Paul Belanger, technical product manager for the D+M Group. “With our NR1504 and NR1604 units, Marantz has taken all the hassle out of setting up a premium quality home theater system — and with a price that’s significantly lower than comparable units on the market, fans now have an excellent solution to seriously step up their home entertainment components without breaking the bank.”

Marantz has listed the 5-channel NR1504 AV Receiver with an MSRP of $499.99, with the NR1604 coming in at $649.99.